Web supply mechanism for printing machines



June 23, 1936. J. R. TOMLIN WEB SUPPLY MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 29, 1932 vJune 23, 1936. J. R. ToMLlN WEBSUPPLY MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed Jari. 29, 1932 5Sheets-Shea?I 2 nv. www

J. R. TOMLIN 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 23, 1936.

WEB SUPPLY MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 29, 1952 y June23, 1.936. R TOMLlN (2,045,059

WEB SUPPLY MECHANISM'FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 29, 1932 5Sheets-Sheet 4 June 23, 1936. J. R. TOMLIN 2,045,059

LY E FOR PRINTING MA CCCC ES Filed Jan. 29, 1932 5 Sheets-Shee+I 5Patented June 23, 1936 WEB SUPPLY MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES JohnR. Tomlin, Brooklyn, N. Y.; assignor tn R. Hoe & Co., Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York; Irving Trust Company, trustee ApplicationJanuary 29, 1932, Serial No. 589,566

` 29 claims.

This invention relates in general to web supply mechanism foraise withmachines which print or otherwise operate upon websof paper or similarmaterial that are drawn from rolls and especially high speed rotaryprinting machines. More particularly the invention relates to a novelmechanism for controlling the tension of a web running to a printingmachine so that tension will be applied to a web of the smaller orexhausting roll of a pair of web rolls mounted on a support and thenautomatically transferred to a' web of the other or spare roll as thelatter replaces Vthe former. The device makes use of tension or brakingmechanism of the character shown and described in co-pending applicationof John R. Tomlin, Serial No. 505,551, filed Dec. 30, 1930, now PatentNo. 1,930,733, granted Oct. 17, 1933, and Ihas for its object theprovision of means whereby tension or regulating action is communicatedautomatically from one web to 'another of a plurality of web rollsrevolvably mounted on a common web roll support connected to a printingmachine, without interruption to the operation of the said machine.

A further object is the provision of a web roll carrier adapted torotatably support each of a n plurality of web rolls in operativeposition for supplying a continuous running web to a printing machine,and to apply and transfer a tensioning action from the web of one webroll to another, so that the'feeding ofthe running web to the print-ving machine may be e'ected under operating conditions of the highestefficiency and without inter-- ruption or retardation of the v operationof the printing machine. q

Another object is to provide means for revolvably mounting a pair of webrolls on a support Iand connecting said web rolls toa common brakroll inimmediateuse until the said roll has been.

replaced by another and then applied to the latter automatically,without stoppage or retardation of the said machine.

A still further object is to provide a web roll support particularlydesigned and adapted to operatively mount two web rolls in proximity toeach other in such wise as to eiect the utmost economy `of space.

It is also an object to provide a web roll support of generally improvedconstruction. whereby the device will be simple, durable and inexpensivein construction', as well as convenient, serviceable and eillcient inits use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the

practical,

Figure 1 is a front View, with parts broken away,

of a web roll carrier to which the invention has been operativelyapplied;

Figure 2 is a top 'plan view, partly in section, looking in thedirection of the arrow 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a front view of a modified form of the invention;

, Figure 4 is a top plan view of the modified form of the inventionlooking in the direction of the arrow I of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged elevational detail view, partly in section, ofdetails forming a part of an associated tension device for applying andtransferring braking action from one web roll to another;

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 6-6 'of Figure 5looking in the direction of the arrow; and

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view, partly in elevation, taken online 1 1 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrow.

In the drawings, A and B designate web rolls which may be for example anexhausting and a replacement or spare web roll respectively, rotatablymounted upon an adjustable web roll carrier D embodying one form of theinvention.

The web roll carrier D comprises a supporting frame or structure whichincludes uprights or pedestals II and I2 respectively. The upright II isilxedly secured to a floor or foundation while the upright I2 isslidably mounted in any suitable manner upon a base plate I3 forproviding axial or longitudinal movement to a portion of the web rollcarrier assembly which coacts with the fixed portion thereof inadjustably supporting the plurality of web rolls A and B.

The web rolls A and B are supported on yoke vmembers or arms Il, I5 eachof which is formed '.with a pair of hubs or bearing heads I6, I1 havingspaced apertures formed therein for the sliding reception of twin shaftsI8 andV I9, the hubs being` adjustably secured to the twin shafts I8, I9

in any suitable manner as by set screws 20.. The shafts I8, I9 arejoined by a brace or web 2l having twin collars or heads 22 in which thesaid shafts I8, I9 may be slidably secured or locked thereto as by theset screws 23. The-ends of the 'yoke member I4 have protruding rollsupporting spindles 24 with tapering portions or sleeves 25 rotatablysupported thereon, a'pair of which latter are adapted to be thrust intoand out of the cores of the web rolls at one end by manipulating thehand wheels 26 when the web rolls are mounted on and taken 'off the saidyoke members. The mechanism for adjusting the spindles 24 into and outof the cores of the web rolls may be of a type similar to that shown inpatent of Lamatsch, No. 1,859,301, datedMay 24, 1932, for Web rollsupnport, and need not be described in detail here.

The other yoke member I5 shown in Figures l and 2 is provided with meansforming an important feature of the present invention as willhereinafter appear, which" coacts with anadjustable braking or tensiondevice or assembly E for automatically and alternately transferring abraking or regulating tension from the web of one revolving web roll Awhich may be an, exhausting roll to the web of another rotating web rollB which may be a replacement or reserve web roll. This tension on theweb is effected by the resistance offered to the rotation of the webrolls by the braking or tension device E. Each of the opposite ends ofthe yoke -member I5 on either side of the twin hubs I1 comprises, asbest shown in Figures 5 and 6, a hollow annular member or casing 21which may be of the conventional form shown and which serve to house thefree or overrunning clutch and 'roll core-engaging assembly 28 forming acomponent part of present invention and of the means which directlycoact to support the web rolls A and B by engagement with the cores 29thereof.

The clutch and core engaging assembly 28, which is rotatably mountedinthe housing 21, comprises a sleeve 3| to which is fastened by screws32 a plate 33 having a'hole 34 in the marginal edge of which is anannular pocket 35 adapted to receive a flbre washer 36 or other suitablematerial for preventing the seepage of oil rfrom the interior of thesleeve 3| wherein a spindle 31 having an outer tapered core-engaging end38 is revolvably mounted .by means hereinafter described.- The innerannular surface of the sleeve 3| is provided with an annular inwardlydirected flange 39, von either side of which are arranged the roller andball bearings 4|, 42 respectively secured in the-races or guides 43, 44which are seated in somewhat relative staggered relation on the saidinner surface of the sleeve 3 I. spection of Figure 5, it will be seenthe spindle 31 is formed with an enlarged portion or external flange 45,which is. adjacent to the outer surface of the plate 33, and is alsoprovided with a series of integrally-formed, annular bearing-supportingor reduced portions 46, 4 1, 48, and a reduced end 49,-all of which arearranged in concentric and stepped relation, the portion 46 coactingwith the washer 35 to retain oil withinthe sleeve 3|, while the portion41 and the reducedend 49 serve as bearing surfaces for the roller andball bearings' 4| and 42 which permit the free rotation of the saidspindle. On the portion 49 a sleeve or annular member 5I is secured bykeys 50, and this member has recesses or pockets 52 accommodatingrollers 53 confined between guide strips 54 arranged in pairs andsuitably secured to the annular member. Each of the rollers 53, as bestshown in Fig. 6, is engaged by a plunger assembly 4.0, comprising asmall block or plate 55 having an arcuate 'surface and provided with astem 55 received in a spring 51 positioned in a recess 50 communicatingwith each of the pockets 52, the spring 51 pressing against the plate 55to normally and yieldingly maintain the roller 53 against the By ininnersurface or inwardly directed flange 39 of the sleeve 3|, but permittingthe said rollers to have 'movement against the resistance of the saidspring for a purpose appearing hereinafter. To the outer extremity ofthe reduced end 49 of the spindle 31 a plate 59 is fastened in anysuitable manner as by the screw 6|. The plate 59, it will be noted,serves to retain the ball bearing 42 against the side of the flange 39in order to maintain the bearing 42 in correct alignment for seating onthe reduced end 49, of spindle 31 and fo:- coasting with plate 33 androller bearing 4|, to maintain the sleeve 5| and its rollers 53 on theflange 39.

A second plate 62 which is recessed as at 63 to receive the smallerplate 59 has a boss 64 which is shouldered or reduced as at 65 toprovide a reduced end 56 on which a collar 61 having a sprocket or gear88 is splined or keyed. The plate 62 is secured by the screws 32 andscrews 89 to the sleeve 3| and aids in retaining the bearings andspindle 31 hereinbefore mentioned in correct alignment in the sleeve 3|.As best shown in Figure 5, the means for rotatably supporting thecore-engaging assembly 28 within the housing 21 includes a thrust ring10 securedv by aseries of screws 10 to the sleeve 3|. Roller bearings21' arranged on either side of the said thrust ring 10 and positionedbetween the housing 21 and sleeve 3| serve to rotatably support thelatter when torque is being transmitted fromlthe spindle 31 to the saidsleeve 3| and thereby to the plate 62 and sprocket 58 which isoperatively connected, as hereinafter described, to the tension deviceE.

To rotate' the web roll support when required in order to alternatelybring one roll or another to a position suitable for feeding a web to aprinting machine or joining the web ofthe replacement roll to theexhausting roll, the twin shafts I3 and I9 on which the yoke members I4and I5 are secured, are shouldered as at 1| to provide reduced ends 12,13, which are received in holes 14 formed in spindle blocks or trunnionmembers 15, 16. the latter being fastened against the shoulders 1| ofthe twin shaft I8, I9 by nuts 11 threaded on extremities 18 of. theshafts I8, I9 and engaged against washers 19 abutting shoulders 8| onthe blocks 15, 16. 'I'he spindle blocks 15, 16 have projecting hubs orjournals 32, 83 respectively on the latter of which a worm gear 84 issecured as by the key 85. The hubs or journals 82, 83, which serve aspivots or axles for the entire assembly between the blocks 12, 13, aremounted on journal bearings 86, 81 secured to the uprights and I2respectively. As clearly shown in Figure 2, the spindle block 16 isprovided with a hole or passageway 89 through which a shaft 89 having a`reduced end 90 is passed, the latter being connected at one end by acoupling 9| to the coacting tension device E mentioned above, thedetails of which latter in themselves form no part of the presentinvention. The reduced end 90 of the shaft 89 is received in a pocketl92 formed in, the brace 2| and is slidably keyed or splined to anelement 94 having two sprockets 95, 96 secured to or formed integrallythereon. The element 94 which, as shown in Figure 2, is positioned in apocket 91 formed in the hub 98 of the yoke member I5, is shouldered asat 99 and has a reduced end |0| which is rotatably received in a hole|02 provided in the inwardly directed hub |03 of a plate |04 which issecured in a suitable manner .as by the screw bolts |05 to an annularflange |85 formed on the hub 98 of the yoke member placement web roll B.

I adjacent the outer portion of the pocket 01. The end of the inwardlydirected hub |03 cf the plate |04, it will be noted, is seated 'againstthe shoulder 99 of the element 94 thus conning the latter in the pocket91 in the position shown unitil the plate |04 is removed.

Referring to Figure 1, it will be seen that the worm gear is engagedwith a worm |01 secured on a shaft |08 to which a gear |09 is fastened,the latter being operatively connected to a motor (not shown) so thatwhen the latter is actuated the worm gear 04 fastened to the spindleblock 'I6 will rotate causing the roll carrier D or rather the yokemembers Il, I5 thereof to turn for swinging the web rolls A and B in thedesired positions.

By further inspection of Figure 1, -it will beV noted that the tensiondevice E which is supported on the bracket |I| fastened on or formedintegrally with the upright I2 together with an Vassembly shown at theright-hand side of Figure 1 including shaft 89 will move or reciprocatein the direction of the axis of the said shaft 89 for the purpose ofobtainingthe proper adjustment of the roll of paper to provide theccrrect or desired margins on the newspaper or magazine being printed.The tension device E which is described and illustrated in thependingapplication Serial No. 505,551, filed Dec. th, 1930, as alluded toabove, serves to provide regulating means for a web roll controllingmechanism that will act to vary the braking action as the web rolldecreases in size.

Assuming for example that A and B are exhaustingor expiring' andreplacement web rolls respectively and that 4it is desired to substitutethe web of roll A by the web of roll B without 'interruption to providewhat is called a flying paster" or web join, and further assuming thatthe web of roll A is traveling to a printing machine, the rotation ofthe said roll A will cause the rotation of the spindles and sleeves 2landv 31 at the left and right-hand sides of the web roll A in thedirection of the arrows as shown. in Figures 1, 5, and 6 andconsequently revolve the spindle 3l and the annular member 5I keyedthereo, thereby binding or jamming the rollers 53 between the innersurface of the sleeve 3| and the surface of the pocket 52. This coactionof the spindle 31 of the running roll with the sleeve 3| will cause therevolution of the latter and consequently the rotation of the sprocket60 on the collar 0l forming a part of the plate 02 fastened to thesleeve 3|. The sprocket 68 'is connected by a chain |18 or othersuitable means to the sprocket 9E of the sprocket element 94, the othersprocket 96 of which is connected by a second chain ||9 'to the'.sprocket 08 on the collar 61 fastened to the spindle 3B of the re- I'hespindle assembly supporting the web roll B is practically identical withthe spindle assembly supporting A, but in the case of the web roll B itis to be noted that the sprocket 6B thereof, while the web of theexhausting roll A, is traveling to the printing machine, is Anow turningthe sleeve II which will over-run the spindle which occurs as therollers 53cm the pocket 52 press against and push back the small plungerassemblies when the sleeve 3| rotates with the driving sprocket 68. Nomovement therefore, will be communicated to the web roll B andconsequently the tension device E will function solely to regulate thetension of4 the web of the roll A. When, however, the re- 5 placementweb roll B has been bodily swung by the web roll carrier D whichincludes the worm and gears connected to the motor (not shown) on theshaft |08, to the desired position preparatory to making a flyingpaster, and its periphery 10 has been engaged in the usual manner bypower driven means (not shown) to equalize its peripheral speed withthat of the exhausting web roll A, it will be observed that when thewebof the latter has been joined to the web of the replacement roll B'andseparated from the stub of the exhausting roll'A, thesleeve 3| will beoperatively connected or bound to the spindle 31, in the mannerdescribed above. A resistance to the rotation of the replacement webroll B will now :o take place in the manner described above inconnection with web roll A. Under al1 circumstances the tension deviceEthrough the intermediary of the shaft 89, the clutch and core-engagingassemblies 28 and associated parts will function to 2.3 automaticallyregulate or brake the web roll being used, no tension being communicatedto the web of the replacement web roll B during the transfer processuntil the substitution of one web for another has actually been made andthe stub 210 of the exhausting roll A has been separated from theportion of the web of roll A now spliced to the web of roll B. Also itis to he noted that the device will function automatically to applytension to the web of the smaller of a pair of web 11.3 rolls mounted ona support during the process of the substitution above-described. anduntil such substitution has actually been made since the angular speedof the core of the smaller roll will increase as the said smaller rolldecreases 40 in diameter and will invariably be greater than the angularspeed of the core of the replacement web roll up to and including thetime when the web of the expiring web roll-has been severed v from itsstub.

As shown in Figures l and 2, the yoke members H and l5 may be slid oradjusted on the twin shafts I8, andi! by loosening the screws 20 on thehubs I6, I1 in order to accommodate web rolls of various widths asindicated on dotted lines.

In'addition to the automatic regulation and transfer of the brakingaction applied to the core of the expiring web roll to that of thereplacement web roll, it is to be noted that by the use of twin shaftsI8, and placing same in spaced re- 55 lation between and adjacent theweb rolls A and Bv it is possible' to arrange the web rolls so thattheir peripheries are quite close, or separated just best illustrated inFig. 'I where it will be observed that by placing the twin supportingshafts be- .tween the exhausting and replacement rolls and removed .fromthe vertical line joining their respective axes, it is possible to bringthe said rolls into a super-posed position with their adjacentperipheries separated by a narrow space just suiilcient to allowclearance for the tension trans# mitting shaft I9. It will be observedthat the twin shafts or axial supports 8, I9 are arranged between thepair of web rolls and positioned within parallel planes common to theperipheries of the web rolls. Stabilization and stiffening of theimmediate supporting structure of the web rolls by the use of the twinshafts and associated parts are also desirable concomitants of thepresent design and construction.

In Figures 3 and 4 I have illustrated a modified form of the inventionwhich makes use of two pairs of the or er-running clutch andcore-engaging assemblies, secured in casings 21, practically similar tothose described above. The present embodiment of the invention employs acountershaft |24 hereinafter mentioned and arranged at one side and inthe same plane with a shaft |25 which has yoke members |25, |21 slidablyand adjustably secured thereon by set screws |28 threadedly engaged inthe hub |29 of the said yoke members |26, |21. Such parts of themodified form of the invention as are practically the same as thosedescribed in detail above will only be referred to in the present formby indicating their actual connection to other details of the mechanismfor coaction with same.

By'inspection of Figure 3 it will be seen the shaft |25 on which the hub|29 of yoke members |26, |21 are secured, is rotatably mounted injournal bearings or heads |30, |3| formed on or secured to supportingpedestals |32, |33. On the journal bearing |30 a tension member E of thetype described above is fastened, -an operative driving connectionbetween the device E and the shaft |24 being obtained by a chain |34 anda pair of coacting sprockets |35, |36 connected to same, as clearlyindicated in Figure 3. Fast with the sprocket |36 is a gear |31rotatably mounted on the shaft |25 and meshing with a gear |38 fastenedon the countershaft |24, the latter being heid inspaced relation to theformer by bearing hangers |39, |40 which are preferably spliced as bythe key or spline |4| to the shaft |25 and thus will rock or swing aboutthe latter as an axis when the said shaft |25 is turned by the worm gear84 which engages the worm |01 on the shaft |08 having a connection t0 adriving motor (not shown) of the same general type as the mechanismshown in Figure 1 and described above. To the right-hand end of theshaft |25 a hub |42, which may be a part of the worm wheel 84, isfastened. When the pedestal |33 and connected assembly including themotor ||2 are slid on the base plate ||3 as described above inconnection with the details shown at the lower right-hand side of Figure1, thehub of the bearing hanger |40 andthe hub |42 between which the hub|3| of the pedestal |33 is con fined, will serve to convey the shaft |25in an axial direction,- thus permitting the withdrawal of the particularspindle from the core of one of the web rolls after one or both of theset screws |28 have been turned to permit the adjacent hub or hubs |29of the yoke member |26 or |21 to be slid on the shaft |25 therebyallowing the exhausted web roll H to be taken off and replaced.

As best shown in Figure 4 the hubs |29 of both yoke members |26, |21 ofthe modified form of the invention are secured to bearing collars |43,|44 by screw bolts |45, the collars |43, |44 supporting thecounter-shaft |24 in spaced relation to the shaft |25. Secured or keyedto shaft |24-- |53, |54 respectively fastened in the spindles 2T of thelower web core engaging members, while the sprockets |49 and |50 areconnected by chains |52 to sprockets |55 and |55 on the upper spindles21 of the web core engaging members,

- shaft |24 which is connected by gears |31, |38

to tension device E vwhose automatic regulating or braking action hasbeen alluded to above.

The countershaft |24 is mounted in journal bearings |51, |58 secured toor formed integrally with hangers |39, |40 and is secured against axialor longitudinal displacement during operation by a collar |59 fastenedto one end thereof and engaged against the journal bearing |58, and bythe washer |6| which is pressed by the gear |38 against the 'journalbearing |51, the gear |38 being held to the shaft |24 by a screw |52threaded in the reduced end of the said shaft |24.

The operation of the modified form of the invention shown in Figures 3and 4 in large measure parallels the operation of that shown in Figures1 and 2 since the same type of over-running clutch and core engagingassemblies are used. In the present instance, however, instead of thetwin shafts I8 and I9 of Figures 1 and 2, the yoke members |26, |21 areadjustably secured on the shaft |25 which is rotated on its axis andshifted laterally when desired by the assembly illustrated at the lowerright-hand side of Figure 3, which is similar to that shown in Figure 1.

In the present instance, assuming the lower' or exhausting web roll H tobe revolving, tension or regulating braking action will be communicatedthereto by the tension device E through the intermediary of thecountershaft |24, the sprockets |48, |53, |54, |5| and chains|52, whilethe over-running clutches in the casings 21 of the upper portions of theyoke member |23, |21 will idle untilthe upper web roll J is rotated at aspeed sufficient to revolve the sleeves 3| supportling same atan angularspeed greater than that of the spindles 31, as set forth above. By thearrangement of the two pair of over-running clutch and core engagingassemblies 20 and the countershaft |24, tension or braking action fromthe tension device E may be distributed equally and automatically to thespindles of the web rolls H and J, thereby achieving a very uniform orstabilizing action on the one or both web rolls H and J which has beenfound to substantially lessen vibration in addition to which the dangeror possibility of tearing or rupturing the core of the web roll 'whenstarting up is greatly minimized as the force necessary for overcomingthe inertia of the web roll is now distributed at two points or bothends of the said web roll. The tension device E which ln itself formsthe subject matter of the pending application, Serial No. 505,551mentioned above, functions to apply variable braking actionconsecutively on the cores of the web rolls as these decrease indiameter while being fed to a printing machine and coacts with thepresent mechanism to tension or regulate the web of the roll in use andthen to automatically transfer its tensioning or regulating action tothe web of the replenishing web roll at-the proper time.

I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other speciilc formswithout departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and Itherefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respectsas illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appendedclaims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope ofthe invention. y

What I claim is:

1. In web supply mechanism of the character described, in combination, aweb roll support having a. carrier member provided with means forrotatingly supporting an exhausting web roll and a spare web roll, atension devicesecured to said mechanism for automatically applyingtension consecutively to a web of each of said web rolls, said memberbeing supported on means positioned between the exhausting and spare webrolls and within parallel planes tangent to the peripheries of said webrolls, whereby a substantial saving of space is effected in mechanism ofthe kind described.

2. In a web roll supply mechanism including in combination, a web rollsupport, means mounted on the support and adapted to rotatably support a-plurality of web rolls, a tension device for applying a tensionautomatically and consecutively to a web of each of said plurality ofweb rolls in turn, and other means connected to the said supportpermitting the arrangement of the plurality of web rolls in adjacentpositions to effect a substantial saving of space in mechanism of thekind described, said other means including a pair of shafts arrangedbetween the web rolls and within parallel planes common to theirperipheries.

3. A method of automatically transferring tension applied to an expiringweb roll while rotating, to a replacement web roll which consists inrevolvably mounting said expiring and replacement web rolls uponseparate means secured to a support having a pair of interconnectedpower-transmltting instrumentalities, each of said power-transmittinginstrumentalities being connected to separate tensioning means and tosaid' expiring and replacement web rolls, then causing the revolution ofthe replacement web roll, as a web of said rotating expiring web roll isbeing fed to a printing machine after arranging said power-transmittinginstrumentalities so that tension' will be applied to the expiring webroll but not to the replacement web roll, then revolving saidreplacement web roll so that the powertransmitting instrumentalitiesconnected to same .rotates faster than the power-transmittinginstrumentalities connected to said expiring web roll whereby thetension being applied to the expiring web roll is Aautomaticallytransferred therefrom to the replacement web roll.

j 4. In web supply mechanism for a printing machine, of the characterdescribed including a rotatable 4web roll support having a plurality ofmeans for rotatably supporting a plurality of web rolls thereon, atension device secured to said mechanism, and other means operativelyconnecting said plurality of means with said tension device when saidweb rolls are unwinding;V each of said rst-mentioned means including aplurality of' clutches operative to join the tension device selectivelyto the plurality of means, one

at a time only when the adjacent web roll begins to unwind.

5. A device for automatically transferring braking action from onerevolving web roll to tion to the operation of a printing machine towhich said device is operativelyconnected which 'cured to said support,and 'other means including a plurality of over-running clutchesautomatically connectible to said tensioning means and to saidfirst-mentioned plurality of means, for applying tension to said webrolls individually as each of the web rolls is fed to said printingmachine to replace another of the web rolls approaching exhaustion. 6.In web roll supply mechanism for a printing machine including a web rollcarrier including means adapted to rotatably support a plurality of webrolls, one of said web rolls having a web feedingto said printingmachine, an individual over-running clutch for each of said plurality ofmeans, a web tensioning vinstrumentality secured to said mechanism andconnectible with the said clutches, and adapted to apply a variabletension to the said feeding web while simultaneously permitting by meansof said clutches, rotation of another of said web rolls until the saidfeeding web has been operatively joined to a webof the last-mentionedroll.

7. In web supply mechanism for a printing machine of the characterdescribed including a web roll carrier, a plurality of means forrotatvably supporting a plurality of web rolls on said clutches andtransferring said tension automatically from a feeding web rollapproaching exhaustion to a fresh web roll.

8. A device for automatically transferring tension from a traveling webof an exhausting web roll to a web of a spare web roll withoutinterrupcomprises in combination a tensioning instrumentality, a. webroll support having a pair of means for rotatably supporting anexhausting web roll and a spare web roll, a clutch connected to each ofsaid vpair of means and to said tensioning instrumentality, said clutchbeingfree running in one direction but adapted to resist by means ofsaid tensioning instrumentality the rotation of said exhausting web rollwhile unwinding until the angular speed of the means supporting thespare web roll exceeds the angular speed of the means supporting theexhausting web roll and then operating to apply braking action to saidspare web roll. y

9. In web supply mechanism including a web roll carrier, a pair of meanssecured on said carrier and arranged in opposed relation thereon forrotatably supporting a pair of web rolls, a pair of shafts joining saidmeans, said shafts 65 being-arranged between the web rolls and withinparallel planes tangent to the peripheries of the said web rolls, athird shaft positioned between the pair of web rolls and thefirst-mentioned pair of shafts, said third shaft being operativelyconnected to each of said means, a tension device secured to the thirdshaft, and a common axial support for permitting the rotation of thepair of means, the pair of web rolls and all of said shafts as a unit.

10. In a support for two web rolls which are successively advanced tofeeding position, a pair of shafts arranged in spaced relation, a pairof members adjustably mounted on said shafts for rotatably supportingthe said web rolls, and means pivotally arranged on said support wherebythe said shafts, web rolls and means may be rotated as a unit.

' rotating at the higher speed will be connected the braking device.

12. In a support for two web rolls which are f successively advanced tofeeding position, a braking device adapted to resist rotation of eitherof the rolls, and means including an over-running clutch whereby theroll which is rotating at the higher speed will be connected to thebraking device.

13. In a web supply mechanism including spaced pedestals, a web rollcarrier rotatably supported by the pedestals, the web roll carrierincluding spaced parallel shafts, web roll supporting arms carried bythe spaced shafts, and trunnion members rigidly secured to thepar'allelshafts and journaled on the pedestals.

14. In a web supply mechanism including spaced pedestals, a web rollcarrier rotatably supported by the pedestals, the web roll carrierincluding spaced parallel shafts, web roll supporting arms slidablysupported by the parallel shafts,` and trunnion members rigidly securedto the parallel shafts and journaled on the pedestals to permit rotationof the web roll carrier.

l5. In a web supply mechanism including spaced pedestals, a web rollcarrier rotatably supported by the pedestals, the web roll carrierincluding spaced parallel shafts, roll supporting arms, a hub formed oneach web roll supporting arm and having spaced apertures formed thereinfor the reception of the said shafts thereby slidably mounting the webroll supporting arms on the said shafts, and trunnion members rigidlysecured to the said shafts and journaled in the pedestals to permit therotation of the web roll carrier.

16.-In a web roll supply mechanism having axial supports for rotatablysupporting web rolls, an overrunning clutch operably connected to eachaxial support, a braking device, means for operably connecting thebraking device to the overrunning clutches, the clutches' beingconstructed and arranged so that while one of the clutches is impartinga braking action to its axial support and web roll the other is idlingrelative v to its axial support and web roll.

17. In combination with a printing machine,

vmeans for rotatably supporting a plurality of web rolls, overrunningclutches operably connected to vthe web rolls, a braking device operablyconnected to the overrunning clutches, the" clutches being constructedand arranged to automatically transfer braking action from one of theweb rolls to the other as one web roll is substituted for another.

18. In. combination with a printing machine,

means for rotatably supporting a plurality of web rolls, overrunningclutches operably connected to the web rolls, a braking device, meansfor operably connecting the braking device to the overrunning clutches,the said clutches being constructed and arranged to impart brakingaction to the running web roll and to idle relative to the reserve webroll, and to automatically transfer braking action from one of the webrolls to another as one we roll is substituted for another.

19. In combination with a printing machine, means for rotatablysupporting a plurality of web rolls, an overrunning clutch operablyconnected to each web roll, a common braking device, means for operablyconnecting the said braking device l', to each overrunning clutch, thesaid clutches and connecting means being constructed and arranged toimpart braking action to the running web roll and to automaticallytransfer braking action from one of the web rolls to another as one issubstituted for another.

20. In combination with a printing machine, means for rotatablysupporting a plurality of web rolls, an overrunning clutch operablyconnected with each web roll, a shaft, means for operably 25 connectingeach overrunning clutch with the shaft, a braking device operablyconnected with the shaft, the overrunning clutches and connecting meansbeing constructed and arranged to impart braking action to the runningweb roll and 30 to automatically transfer braking action from one of theweb rolls to another as one is substituted for another.

21. A method of feeding webs to a running printing machine, whichconsists in revolvably 35 mounting a plurality of web rolls on arotatable support, automatically applying uniform tension to the web ofthe running roll without operably engaging its web, rotating the supportto move the reserve roll to a position to substitute for the exhaustingrunning roll, securing the web of the exhausting running roll to thereserve roll thereby making it the new running roll, and automaticallytransferring the tension from the exhausted roll to the new runningroll.

22. Web controlling mechanism including in combination a movable supportfor a web roll rotatably mounted by its shaft, a brake operating on theroll shaft mounted on a stationary support, and means for connectingsaid web roll to said brake to control the rotation of the roll.

23. Web controlling mechanism including in combination a movable supportfor a plurality of web rolls rotatably mounted by their shafts wherebyweb rolls may be successively brought into active or feeding position, abrake operating on any of the roll shafts mounted in a fixed positionand connections between said brake and web rolls whereby the brakecontrols the rotation of the active web roll.

' 24. Web controlling mechanism including in combination a rotatablesupport for rotatably supporting a plurality of web rolls, a brake forsaid web rolls mounted on the axis of rotation of said support and meansfor connecting said brake to any of the web rolls.

25. Web controlling mechanism including in combination a rotatable#support for rotatably supporting a plurality of web rolls, a brake forsaid web mils mounted centrally of said web rolls, 7o and gearingconnecting said brake with any one of said web rolls.

26. Web controlling mechanism including in combination a pair ofrotatable arms between 'which are rotatably mounted a plurality of web75 rolls to be successively moved into web feeding position, a brakemounted coaxially with said arms and chains driven by said rolls andconnecting said brake with any of the web rolls.'

27. Web controlling mechanism including in combination a pair ofrotatable arms between which-.are rotatably mounted a plurality vof webrolls to be` successively moved into web feeding position, brakemechanism, a stationary support at afdistance from said rotatable armsand on which said brake mechanism is mounted and means for operativelyconnecting said brake mechanism with any one of said web rolls.

28'. Web controlling mechanism including 11 combination a pair ofrotatable arms between which are rotatably mounted a plurality of webrolls to be successively moved into web feeding position, brakemechanism, a stationary support at one side of the web rolls and onwinch the brake mechanism is mounted,- a sprocket coaxial with saidarms, a chain connecting said sprocket and brake and other chainsindividually driven by said web rolls and connecting said sprocket andweb rolls.

29. A web tensioning means including in cornbination means for rotatablysupporting a plurality of web rolls, a brake, gearing connecting thebrake mechanism with each web roll, said gearing including one-wayclutches whereby the brake is driven only by the fastest moving webroll.

' JOHN R. 'roMLIN.

